Bauduen · 83
L'Art en jouet
A living art museum unique in France, where artist Yveline Gimel has been staging giant sets entirely populated with Playmobil figurines since 2002, in the former presbytery of Bauduen.
- A living art museum unique in France: five giant sets (Middle Ages, City, Indians, Provence, Elves) entirely populated with thousands of Playmobil figurines, staged by hand.
- Housed in the former presbytery of Bauduen, at the top of the village, just a few minutes' walk from the lac de Sainte-Croix.
- Created in 2002 by artist Yveline Gimel; according to recreplanet.fr, the project grew out of her wish to bring to life her late husband's Playmobil collection, with the agreement of Playmobil France.
- Since 2024, two new sets have been added to the three original ones, bringing the total to five.
- Run by the association 'l'entrerêve', whose purpose is to promote art through toys; according to a France 3 Provence-Alpes report (2016), the site welcomes around 6,000 visitors a year.
History and creation
- The museum was created in 2002 by Yveline Gimel (source: artenjouet.com, 'history' page).
- According to recreplanet.fr, the project grew out of Yveline Gimel's wish to bring to life her late husband's extensive collection of Playmobil figurines, with the agreement of Playmobil France.
- Still according to recreplanet.fr, more than 5,000 hours of work were needed to hand-craft the museum's murals and sets.
- Yveline Gimel is also identified as a visual artist (plasticienne) in other art events in the Haut-Var (source: 1jardin1artiste.fr, 'Pour une fois' collective, 2014).
The venue and the sets
- The museum occupies the former presbytery of Bauduen, at the top of the village, on the montée/rue sous l'église (sources: Office de Tourisme Lacs et Gorges du Verdon; CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur; recreplanet.fr).
- Five sets are currently on display: Middle Ages, City, Indians, Provence and Elves (source: artenjouet.com, 'visit and rates' page).
- According to artenjouet.com, the displays feature day/night lighting, a soundscape, seek-and-find games and educational texts along the route.
- On the terrace, unusual sound instruments called 'les Takatapés', made from natural materials, are on display (source: artenjouet.com).
- Playmobil is a registered trademark; it is mentioned here in a factual and descriptive way to refer to the collection of figurines on display.
A community-run, educational visit
- The site is run by the association 'l'entrerêve' (SIRET 479 872 988 00049), whose purpose is to promote art through toys (source: artenjouet.com).
- Visitors are welcomed personally by Yveline or Gérard, who explain how the visit works before the public is free to wander through the sets on their own (source: artenjouet.com).
- A creative contest is held for visitors every year, who are invited to send in photos of their own creations before the end of November (source: artenjouet.com).
- The visit generally lasts from one to two hours, depending on the visitor's interest (sources: artenjouet.com; Office de Tourisme Lacs et Gorges du Verdon).
Recognition and visitor numbers
- The site is listed as a 'private museum' (Fine Arts / Visual Arts category) by the Comité Régional de Tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (source: provence-alpes-cotedazur.com).
- The Wikipedia article on Bauduen mentions the site twice: in the Tourism section ("L'art en jouet : le jouet Playmobil") and in the Heritage section ("le musée Playmobil") (source: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauduen).
- A France 3 Provence-Alpes report, broadcast in 2016, put the figure at around 6,000 visitors a year (sources: YouTube video and Facebook post by France 3 Provence-Alpes featuring this report).
- The museum is also listed by the Office de Tourisme Intercommunal Lacs et Gorges du Verdon in its 'Museums' section for Bauduen (source: lacs-gorges-verdon.fr).
The museum is located at the top of the village of Bauduen, in the former presbytery, on the montée/rue sous l'église (on foot from the village centre). Free parking is reported nearby by several sources. Bauduen lies on the shore of the lac de Sainte-Croix, in the Var (83), on the border with the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. GPS coordinates of the site according to the CRT PACA: 43.734071 / 6.175839.
Official museum website (opening hours & prices) ↗Frequently asked questions
What is 'L'Art en jouet' in Bauduen?
A living art museum set in the former presbytery of Bauduen, where giant sets entirely populated with Playmobil figurines stage several worlds (Middle Ages, City, Indians, Provence, Elves). The site was created in 2002 by artist Yveline Gimel and is now run by the association 'l'entrerêve'.
Who created this museum, and why?
According to recreplanet.fr, it was created in 2002 by Yveline Gimel, who wanted to bring to life her late husband's extensive collection of Playmobil figurines, with the agreement of Playmobil France.
How many sets are on display today?
Five sets are currently on display (Middle Ages, City, Indians, Provence, Elves): two were added in 2024 to the three original sets (source: artenjouet.com).
Where exactly is the museum located in the village?
In the former presbytery, at the top of the village of Bauduen, on the montée/rue sous l'église, just a few minutes' walk from the lac de Sainte-Croix; free parking is reported nearby (sources: Office de Tourisme Lacs et Gorges du Verdon, recreplanet.fr).